Priebus: GOP has room for Portman

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Monday that he will not “throw Rob Portman under the bus” because the GOP senator hasn’t towed the party line on same-sex marriage, showing there’s room for people with “different views” in the party.

“I’m trying to show what that leadership looks like, standing up for Rand Paul, by not throwing Rob Portman under the bus. I’m trying to lead by example, I guess, and reaffirm that we’re not compromising our principles either,” Priebus told POLITICO’s Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen on Monday.

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Last week, Sen. Portman (R-Ohio) backed same-sex marriage; his son Will came out to him two years ago while a freshman at Yale University.

Priebus and the RNC released a report earlier Monday about what the Republican Party needs to do in order to expand their party as it heads into the next election cycle, though the report — dubbed an autopsy — has been met with criticism from conservatives within the party.

Priebus said that he hasn’t felt any push back.

“I don’t get the sense at all that there’s push back, but it’s a report from people who are giving us recommendations — it’s a start. It doesn’t mean everything is going to be done,” he said.

He continued: “I think people were surprised by how serious it was. And that’s basically the feedback that I’m getting. This was not a walk through the tulips. I feel good about that and I think that our party needs it. You know what, if you have to break a few pieces of china here and there, I think it’s something we should be doing.”